FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 Fire Prevention in Cold Weather

Logan, Utah - Jan. 14, 2013 - According to the Home Safety Council, each year in the United States 240,000 home fires occur as most households use gas, wood, kerosene, propane or other fuels as their major heating source. Burning these fuels releases potentially fatal carbon monoxide (CO) fumes. Every year, exposure to dangerous levels of CO results in more than 100,000 medical visits and 300 home poisoning deaths in the U.S.

The following tips can help you avoid tragedy this winter:

* Install a smoke alarm and carbon monoxide (CO) alarm on every level of your home and near sleeping areas and make sure to keep them in good working order. Carbon monoxide is a silent killer.

* Never use a gas or charcoal barbecue grill inside to heat your home or any enclosed area.

* Never using a cooking stove to heat your home.

* Turn off space heaters before leaving a room or going to sleep.

* Establish a fire escape plan with at least two means of exit from every room.

If there is a fire hydrant near your house, help keep it clear of snow and debris. The fire department needs to be able to access it in case of a fire.

Other helpful cold weather tips:

Fireplaces & Wood Stoves

• Never leave a fire unattended.
• Have your chimney and fireplace inspected annually by a certified chimney sweep. They will check for creosote build-up, cracks, crumbling bricks, and obstructions.
• Never burn charcoal indoors. It can give off lethal amounts of carbon monoxide when burned.
• Place ashes outdoors in a covered metal container at least three feet away from anything that could burn.

Portable Heaters

• Make sure you have at least 36 inches of empty space between all heaters and everything else, like curtains, furniture, papers, and people.
• Never leave children unattended in rooms with portable heaters.
• Be sure the heater has a tip-over shut off function.
• Never use an extension cord with portable electric heaters. It is a common cause of fires.
• Check the cord on your electric portable heater. If it is cracked or frayed or gets hot, have the heater serviced.
• Be sure to turn portable heaters off when leaving the house or sleeping.

Furnace

• Leave furnace work to experts. Have a qualified technician check and clean the input and controls every year.   
• Always keep trash, papers, paint, etc. away from the furnace area.

Cold Weather Fire Safety

• If your pipes freeze, do not try to thaw them with a blowtorch or other open flame. The pipe could conduct heat and a fire could be started. Try a hand held dryer, hot water or a UL labeled device for thawing.

Escape Planning

• Plan a fire escape plan with your family.
• Make sure all family members are familiar with the plan.
• Practice your escape plan at least twice a year. It is good to practice in the winter so you know what to do in cold weather.

Remember, more fires occur during the winter months than at any other time of year. However, most fires can be avoided by taking a few simple precautions. Now that you have carefully read through these tips, it's time to make sure your home is fire safe so you can have a warm, worry-free winter!

Contact:

Craig Humphreys, Fire Marshal
Logan City Fire Department
76 East 200 North
Logan, Utah 84321
435-716-9515 Office

 

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